Detachable seat cushion



May 24, 1949. J. E. HORN 2,470,929

DETACHABLE SEAT CUSHION Filed April 17, 1947 6 u I f Patented May 24, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLESEAT CUSHION Jacque E. Horn, New York, N. Y.

Application April 17, 1947, Serial No. 742,095

1 This invention relates to improvements in detachable seat cushions particularly adapted for use as cushion seats in open stadiums at ball games or other sports events, and constitutes an improvement on the detachable seat cushion described and claimed in my co-pendingpatent application Serial No. 720,828, filed January 8, 1947, in which is provided a detachable seat cushion that is capable of being rapidly, easily and securely locked to the seat or bench at the time of purchase and that will remain securely locked to the seat until subsequently removed by an authorized person who is in possession of a key.

In devices of this character it is important to provide a construction which will be as indestructible as possible; that can be manufactured at a minimum cost and will at the same time produce a comfortable cushion. The device of my co-pending application was based upon the thought that the use of a peripheral frame would add rigidity to the device and thus enhance the characteristics which increase the strength, ruggedness and substantial indestructibility thereof. The edge of such peripheral frames in such seat cushions are capable of being grasped at opposite sides of the legs of the user and stress applied thereto that will break the same. The weight of such detachable seat cushions constitutes an important factor so that to produce such a peripheral frame which would withstand the efforts of destruction usually encountered in a stadium at ball games and other sports events would require an extremely heavy frame that would make the weight of the device and the cost of the cushion substantially prohibitive, though entirely operative, and the problem was presented of how this difficulty and disadvantage might be overcome or obviated. Y

In accordance with my present invention I have overcome the inherent structural difficulties in my aforesaid earlier seat cushion and have also reduced the cost of such detachable seat cushions by eliminating any peripheral frame which is capable of being grasped by the hands of the user at opposite sides of his legs and I substitute therefor a single strong and rigid transverse hook mounting member preferably positioned at the middle of the cushion so'as to extend between the legs of the user when he is 5 Claims. (01. 155182) seated thereon. I thus provide at opposite sides of said middle or centrally-located hook-mounting member and at opposite sides of the legs of the user, when in use, flexible portions which provide-greatly increased resistance to the stress and strains encountered in use.

In my present detachable seat cushion, I rely upon the flexibility and toughness of the envelope enclosing the cushioning element to withstand the rough usage usually encountered in the said ball park. In other words, I have, instead of a rigid cushion with a rigid peripheral frame, a cushion which is entirely flexible except across the aforesaid hook-mounting member which, because of its reduced area, may without excessive cost or weight be made of highly rigid material that will withstand, without bending, any possible strains whatsoever, and also is securely locked at both ends to the highly rigid seat as well as being so positioned relatively to the seating portion of the body of the user that no strain can be put on the same.

Still another object of my invention is to provide, in combination with a rigid transverse hookmounting member, a lock which cannot be released. by the insertion of a knife :or like imple ment.

Still another object of my invention is to mount on arigid transverse hook-mounting member an extensible lock-controlled hook in which the hook constitutes the hasp of the controlling lock and is limited in its outward movement so that it cannot at any time be removed from the lock. Still another object of my invention is, in a device of the character specified, to provide for an extensible lock-controlled hook of the type specified, a simple locking device capable of automatic locking upon an inward movement without a key and which is capable of ready and facile release and extension of the hook by the use of an authorized keying device.

-'-With these and other objects in view, the inventioncomprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a seat such as used in stadiums having my improved seat cushion applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View partly in section and partly in plan of the middle portion of my seat cushion showing my transverse hook mounting member having a stationary hook and a lock controlled hook mounted thereon;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in plan of one end of my transverse lock and hook mounting member showing in plan my lock-controlled hook with the cover of the lock removed;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 with a key shown in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing my lock with the inner lock casing removed and key being inserted in the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5 for the purpose of releasing the hook for an extension movement thereof: and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 11 of Fig. 6

looking in the direction of the arrows. Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, my improved seat cushion comprises a detachable cushion seat member 1 adapted to be superimposed upon a hard seat S of a bench or chair in a stadium, ball park or the like, and to be securely locked thereto. My improved detachable seat cushion comprises a cushion of sponge rubber R enclosed within a container comprising an envelope 2 of a flexible, tough material. I have found a suitable material in a Very tough though flexible plastic sheet material that will not only be readily cleansable but will completely enclose and effectively contain the said cushion of rubber R and also the hook-mounting element 3 hereinafter described. This material may be fastened or welded at the joints without stitching and is so tough that it will readily withstand extremely rough usage such as the upward pulling at opposite sides of the leg by a user seated thereon and though flexible will be substantially nontearable. Thus, instead of providing a heavy rigid perimetric frame to reinforce and strengthen the cushion, I preferably avoid and eliminate any frame portions at the sides of the seat which may be grasped by the user and instead depend upon the toughness and flexibility of the container when applied to a medianly-disposed and highly rigid transverse mounting-bar 3, which, when the cushion seat is in use, will extend between the legs of the user. Thus, in the embodiment of my present invention, the flexible envelope 2 is provided with the cushion R of sponge rubber which substantially fills the entire space within the envelope. Below this sponge rubber cushion R and within the envelope 2 at the middle portion of the opposite side edges thereof, I provide slots 2a, 2Tb, the edges of which are preferably suitably reinforced, and the bar 3 is positioned to extend transversely across the middle of the bottom portion of the envelope with an integral hook d and an extensible hook 5, extending through these oppositely positioned slots. Said highly rigid and strong mounting bar 3 is, as shown, relatively wide and flat and lies flatly against the bottom of the envelope 2, thus forming a wide support for the cushion that will not be felt through the sponge rubber cushion R. The hook 4 at the rear end of the seat-cushion is an integral hook and the hook 5 at the forward end thereof is a lock-controlled extensible hook. As illustrated, the extensible hook 5 is formed in- 4 tegrally with or as a part of the hasp 6 of a lock 1, the outer cover or casing 8 of which is securely mounted by rivets or spot welding on the bar 3. Said lock 1 is positioned at the front part of the bar within the envelope 2.

The hasp 6 carrying the hook 5 is slidable in the lock-casing and is adapted upon inward sliding movement to cause a secure locking of the hasp and hook in a position wherein the hook engages the stadium seat, and upon outward sliding movement the hook is moved into seat-releasing position.

In the embodiment shown, I provide a lock having means for preventing complete withdrawal of the hasp and extensible hook from the lock casing; also safety means to prevent pickin of the look by the insertion of a knife or like implement, and facile means by which the hook may be automatically and without the use of a key moved from its released to its locked position.

In the embodiment shown, an inner lock-casing 9 is formed of a channel member having outwardly-projecting flanges 9 9 mounted and fastened to the bar 3 and a body portion 9 is raised and spaced from the bar 3 to provide between said body portion and the bar 3 a channel l0 within which the hasp 6 of the lock is adapted to slide. Said body portion 9 of the inner lock-casing 9 is preferably provided with a louvre-like upper surface H comprising struck-up inclined slot portions forming slots and wedge-shaped indentations pitched, as shown, toward the insertion end of the lock-casing 9 and the inner end of the hasp 6 is provided with a wedge-shaped, spring-actuated locking pawl 6 adapted to fit into one of the indentations and to engage the straight horizontal edge thereof so as to lock therewith against an outward pull on the hasp. The pawl 6*, however, has an inclined terminal end adapted to closely fit the inclined portion of the louvres II, and when said pawl is in engagement with any one of the louvres, excepting the end one, an automatic sliding of the spring-pressed pawl over the louvre openings may be accomplished upon a, direct inward pressing of the hook 5 and hasp 5. As illustrated, the spring-pressed pawl is forced upwardly into engagement with the indentations by the flat spring 6* and in the form of lock illustrated, the pawl 6 and spring 6 are mounted within a centrally disposed slot 6 in the end edge of the hasp 6. A louvre-like construction of this type would enable unauthorized release by the insertion into the channel ID of a fiat knife or other object to cause a depression of the pawl E5 and. release of the lock-controlled hook 5, and in order to prevent any such unauthorized release, I provide on the hasp 6 a pawl-blocking pin I2 disposed in alignment with the pawl 6 A flat plate key member I3 is provided with a slot l3 through which the blocking pin i2 is adapted to slide so as to enable engagement of the locking pawl l5 by portions of the plate [3 at opposite side edges of the slot for the purpose of releasing the same. A safety feature is thus provided to prevent unauthorized release or tampering with the look.

It is desirable to avoid the complete separation of the hasp 6 from the lock-casing 9 and for this purpose I perferably provide the hasp with an integral struck-up projection Hi which is adapted to engage with and fit into a slot It in the inner lock casing member 9. The key plate [3 is cut away to form an elbow at I6 so as to slide by the projection It at one side thereof.

In operation, the seat I with the extensible lock in the seat-releasing position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3 is applied to the seat S and merely by an inward pressure from the hand of the operator the pawl, which is then at one of the outer indentations, slides over the same and enters the final indentation in the position shown in Fig. 5. The detachable seat-cushion will thus be securely looked to the S in position for use by a customer. When, however, it is desired to release the detachable cushion seat from the stadium seat S, a key, such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is inserted into the channel Ill of the lock above the hasp 6, and if such a key is provided with a keying slot 13* and the elbow 6, said key I3 may be readily inserted and will engage with the spring 6' and paw] 6 to depress the same from the locking indentations, whereupon the hasp B will be extensible or slidable outwardly until the projection I 4 engages the end of the slot 15, whereupon further movement of the hasp out of the lock will be prevented. Obviously, the seat when released may be stored, re-applied and automatically locked to any seat of a suitable or given width.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A detachable seat cushion comprising, in combination, a flexible container, a cushion within said container, a hook-mounting member disposed transversely across said container at the middle portion thereof to provide a seat cushion having flexible ends at opposite sides of said transverse mounting member, a relatively stationary hook projecting from one end of said mounting member and extending through said container at the middle of one side edge thereof, a lock-controlled extensible hook mounted at the opposite end of said mounting member and slidably movable through slots in the wall of said container at the opposite edge of said detachable seat cushion, and a controlling lock for releasably locking said extensible hook to said mounting member.

2. A detachable seat cushion as claimed in claim 1, in which said hook-mounting member comprises a flat rigid metal bar, the stationary hook is formed integrally with one end of said mounting member, a lock casing is mounted within the container at the opposite end of said mounting member, and an extensible hook is slidable within said lock casing to enable fastening and releasing of said detachable seat-cushion on a fixed seat.

3. A detachable seat cushion comprising, in combination, a flexible container, a cushion within said container, a hook-mounting member disposed transversely across said container at the middle portion thereof to provide a seat cushion having flexible ends at opposite sides of said transverse mounting member, a relatively stationary hook projecting from one end of said mounting member and extending through said container at the middle of one side edge thereof,

a lock-controlled extensible hook mounted at the opposite end of said mounting member and slidably movable through slots in the wall of said container at the opposite edge of said detachable seat cushion, and a controlling lock for releasably locking said extensible hook to said mounting member, said extensible hook comprising a lockcasing within the container, a lock hasp slidable within said lock-casing and engageable and disengageable therewith, and locking means for releasing said hasp from'the lock casing to permit sliding and locking of the hasp within said lock.

4. A detachable seat cushion as claimed in claim 3 in which said locking means comprises indentations in the lock casing and a springpressed pawl on the hasp is adapted to interengage and to permit movement in one direction while looking against movement in the opposite direction.

5. A detachable seat cushion comprising, in combination, a flexible container, a cushion within said container, a hook-mounting member disposed transversely across said container at the middle portion thereof to provide a seat cushion having flexible ends at opposite sides of said transverse mounting member, a relatively stationary hook projecting from one end of said mounting member and extending through said container at the middle of one side edge thereof, a lock-controlled extensible hook mounted at the opposite end of said mounting member and slidably movable through slots in the wall of said container at the opposite edge of said detachable seat cushion, and a controlling lock for releasably locking said extensible hook to said mounting member, said extensible hook comprising a lockcasing within the container, a lock hasp slidable within said lock-casing and engageable and disengageable therewith, and locking means for releasing said hasp from the lock casing to permit sliding and locking of the hasp within said lock, said locking means comprising indentations in the lock casing and a spring-pressed pawl on the hasp adapted to interengage and to permit movement in one direction while locking against movement in the opposite direction, said hasp being provided with a movement-limiting projection and said lock-casing being provided with a slot in registration therewith adapted to permit a limited sliding movement and to prevent a complete outward sliding movement of the hasp which would separate the hasp from the lock.

JACQUE E. HORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,092,666 Dietrich Sept. 7, 1937 2,152,014 Ashe Mar. 28, 1939 

